BestBuy - Medion Laptop

[chuck]

I went to do my weekly check of Bestbuy's notebook section and to my suprised they are carrying a Medion laptop, the MD 40274.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1059048806340&skuId=5842895&type=product&productCategoryId=cat01174

Let me know what you all think. I'm loving the video card.

[Ioman]

This looks like a sweet laptop. Which company actually makes it I wonder? It looks a lot like the Gateway M500 without the large widescreen display.

[Porsche911]

This is the same system being sold through that Ali grocery store correct? What is the warranty on this system?

[chuck]

I don't know about the warranty but this is not the same thing that is being sold at Aldi.

[theguy]

It's a 1-year warranty, looks like a sweet deal too. Awesome video card, good stuff all around! Geese only $1300 too!

[techfreak]

Isnt a one year warranty bad for a laptop? Does it include parts and labor too?

I would just be worried about buying a laptop no one has heard anything about.

[Unregistered]

Well, from my friends in the UK, Medion isnt exactly a new company. They have been making very popular laptops and desktops for the european market. I am tempted to try it out (could always return it to BB after 14 days if crap). This is my main concern, and please give me an opinion if you will. On other sites, I see where they say not to get a laptop without a higher res TFT display. But I have a 22 inch Samsung monitor at home. The highest I can run my res without eye strain is 1280 x 1024. Since the laptop screen is 5 inches smaller, wouldnt 1024 x 768 be comparable? It also seems that 1024 x 768 would be better for gaming (since when the TFT are in non-native display mode, the graphics get "soft"). With only 64 megs of memory (as compared to 128 or 256 in desktops), higher res modes are going to get choppy. But 1024 x 768 would be a decent size for 64 megs... could probably max out details too on most games. Well, I am new to laptops so I welcome any comments on the screen size.

[Unregistered]

I am torn between this and the vpr Matrix 220a5 that they sell at Best Buy. I can't find a review for this Medion computer, and I would like to know if it has a good screen. The vpr Matrix's screens are supposed to be as good as the Apple notebooks, but the drawback is that I don't think it will be able to run doom 3 when the time comes, and it supposedly is a poorly built machine, with bad repair service.

This Medion computer sounds great except that it isn't widescreen and I am not sure that the screen quality is good. if anyone has seen a medion screen then please tell what it compares to.. eMachines is the best looking one i have actually seen, vpr Matrix is supposed to be better, and then Sony Vaio seems good, and then the HPs, Compaqs, and Averatecs seemed to be not very good.

[DouglasMcc]

I finally registered LOL. Okay, I ordered the Medion from Best Buy's site Tuesday. They are estimating delivery between the 18 and 22 of this month. My VPR arrived today. I going to leave it unopened until I get a chance to check the Medion out. Ive been working with desktops (building, repairing, etc.) since I was 16 (28 now), but never been much into the laptop market. So I don't know how much of an "expert" opinion I will be able to provide. But I will do my best to answer any questions after it shows up. As to Doom 3, you probably don't want a screen with a resolution over 1024 x 768. At the convention they are holding now (think its QuakeCon or something like that), they demostrated Doom 3 in multiplayer mode. They were running the game at 640 x 480 on high end systems with Nvidia 5900 Ultra cards. And my friend tells me the game was still choppy at times (and this was with only 4 multiplayer opponents). Unless the game gets delayed til mid to late 2004 (which is always possible) I believe we will see a "resurgence" of people gaming in either 800 x 600 or 1024 x 768. Unless, Carmack and company perform a miracle during optimization.

[Unregistered]

does anyone know if the screen on the Medion computer is any good?

[Unregistered]

Ah, I found this on CNet asia about a similar Medion laptop:

"What impressed us more was its crisp LCD screen. While this comes in a 15:10 aspect ratio rather than the standard 16:9 configuration, the display is still great for working on multiple applications or watching DVD movies in the letterbox format."

[DouglasMcc]

Okay. Just recieved an e-mails saying my Medion 2.6GHz-MD 40274 is shipping today from Best Buy Online. That means it should be here around Wednesday. The long wait is over:D I am somewhat excited, since I will find out if its golden or a piece of sh... crap. Im hoping for the best. I will keep everyone updated after it arrives.

[jackson]

does anyone know anywhere else besides Best Buy you can get a new Medion notebook computer from? (besides ALDI)

I eagerly await your review of the laptop.

Jackson

[jackson]

The Best Buy site just says it's XGA, but I checked Medion's German website store and even their cheap one with the Celeron had a TFT display, so i'm thinking they probably do all their screens TFT. When you get yours see if it is or not and tell me please. I think with TFT laptops you are supposed to be able to move the mouse around on the screen without the cursor growing dimmer and without movement trails.

Ok thanks

[Unregistered]

I just called medion-USA and they said that the model at best buy, the md 20274, does not have TFT, and it only has XGA.

[DouglasMcc]

Are you sure that the person at Medion wasnt some idiot reading off a card (not listed, so not there). I can't believe they would put all that hardware (what would you need a 5600 go card with 64 megs if not TFT) on a system without a decent screen. Even 700 dollar value systems have TFT. Hell, I do not think they even make anything other than TFT any more. I may be wrong (and if I am the thing goes back), but it seems unlikely.

Quote from the site I was using to study up on laptops:

"Still, TFT screens are brighter and sharper than even the best passive matrix screens. LCD manufacturers don't even make passive matrix screens anymore, so if you are buying a new model, you don't have to worry much about that."

I really think the person you talked to didnt know what they were talking about. At least I hope :(

[Unregistered]

Well it was Medion tech support who I called. He probably just read if off a list. I think you might be right though, that it must be TFT, since all their other laptops have TFT. But you know, there are still some new ones coming out with just XGA in other brands.

I just went to Best Buy today and talked to their store manager. They said that you can bring in the unopened package that you ordered from their website into their store, and if you open it there with them and you don't like it, then you can return it for a full refund, and not have to pay a 15% reshelving fee like normal. You should call Medion up too and see if you can get them to double check. Just check their website to get their phone number. I called the illinois branch, but it probably doesn't matter which office you call since they probably just read it off of some list. Just don't open it at home and then return it or else you'll have to pay over $200 for "reshelving" most likely, even if you do it within 14 days.

[Ioman]

Just want to let everyone know that I have turned on registration for this thread so there cannot be any more unregistered posts. This just helps us with the moderating duties so we can keep tabs on any bad or out of line posts. Registering will give you the ability to post in any of Designtechnica's forums.

Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

Thanks,

The Designtechnica team

[DouglasMcc]

Okay, just recieved it by UPS. I do have a problem with the delivery. The box was kinda crushed. Luckily the laptop box was insider another box with those air filled plastic sacks, but it still pisses me off with something this fragile. When I opened that box, the laptop box was also dented. Called Best Buy online and they said to go ahead and open it, if I had any trouble they would note the shape of the package (would have refused shipment, but the guy just dropped it off on the porch without asking for confirmation). Opened it up, good so far. I looked through the manual and it seems the display is TFT. From the manual:

"This TFT display is designed to be run in its native resolution of 1024 x 768....."

I have tried the cursor.. moving it rapidly around. There doesnt seem to be any cursor trails. Played a DVD and the picture seems nice. No trails or stuttering. Is there any way to insure or test that it is definitely a TFT display? Any other tests you would like performed? I am happy so far. However, I have found 2 dead pixels. This doesnt seem to be too bad however, It is about here on the display:


____________________________





XX

_____________________________

Keep in mind that this is not to scale. its about this size on actually screen:

--

It also appears to be the black/dark stuck, not the irritating white ones. I can only really see it with a light background and looking closely (less that a few inches away). Unless it bothers me in the future I will probably just accept it that way. Any advice on this?

Well, Im going to run it through the motions for a few days before I decide. Any questions or comments are welcome.

[chuck]

Good move Ioman... anyway that's odd the delivery didn't even require a signature. I know when I ordered a laptop from BestBuy's website the delivery man apoligized but said BestBuy required a signature.

[jackson]

So... I ordered this laptop from the website, to the Best Buy store, because the manager at the Best Buy store said I could order it to there and then open it there to see if I liked the screen. But, apparently you can't, so they cancelled my order. Then, by the time I got the credit back on my credit card, a few days later, I tried to order it again but the $150 rebate was gone, just that morning!

So I got one from "American Computech" for about $1350, but with an SVGA screen and only a Radeon 9000 video card (which I believe is not as good as the GeForce FX 5600, but I wonder how much less good), and no wi fi and 20GB less hdd.

For your review of your medion here are a few things I would still like to know:

-How it looks and if it's built solidly
-some sort of 3d game test, like on Quake3, or with the 3dmark thing

[Monkey]

Yikes...I also ordered this laptop, but i didn't know that there was a 15% restocking fee...that sucks

I wanted to look at it first but since it was only online and not it stores i just ordered it thinking i could just return it if i didnt like it. thats trash--it had better be good or im gonna be pissed.

as soon as i get it ill get home edition off (thats trash) put on pro and run 3d tests and check the display and post them.

i sure hope this isnt trash cuz thats $200 like he said... =X

[jackson]

Alrighty, well I ordered a different laptop with almost the same specs. It's a generic "Enhanced Computer Systems" brand. It has a Radeon 9000 64mb instead though, and SXGA instead of XGA. I'm quite pleased with it so far, and the screen is really nice. But I'm interested to see how the Radeon 9000 compares with your GeForce5 card.

The only test I have is the benchmark 2001 from madonion. My system got a "7318" on it. That's with no anti-aliasing i think.

[DouglasMcc]

Sorry guys I went with the ZD7000 from HP. With the 10% off I got:

3.06 P4 with H/T
512 2700 rated DDR MEM
80 Gig HD
Built in Wireless
17 inch widescreen 1400x900 display
128 meg GeForceFX 5600
5in1 Media Reader
2 year extended warranty

There is also a mail in 100 dollar rebate so mine will be 1860 afterwards. When you add that to the 12 month no interest financing I got through HP (and no tax--- that saved another 180 dollars), I think I got a real good deal. My friend is very happy with his Medion though. I just wanted a WS LCD and a little better contrast. I would recommend the Medion for 1499... it scored 8500ish in 3DMark01 with no AA. It would be my portable choice. Mine is 300 dollars more and 3.5 extra pounds with AC adaptor. So not as portable.

[Monkey]

im supposed to get the medion laptop today... =S

however if there is something "defective" on it you dont have to pay the 15% so if i dont like it im sure i can find something wrong with it ;)

[Monkey]

I got my laptop in the mail today...so far it looks good.
Seems to be build sturdily enough
since im a security guard i dont have to really do anything at work so ill run all the tests there tonight

[jackson]

I'm just wondering, how do you go about becoming a security guard? do you have to have perfect vision? I need a job and I always thought that would be an OK job for a while, but I don't have perfect vision without glasses. do you have to take some security guard classes?

[Monkey]

well im not an armed security guard or anything. I just sit at this desk and check peoples ids when they come in and watch that alarm systems. If anything goes wrong i basically just call people and tell them whats happening. naw you dont need perfect vision and i didnt have to take any classes either, but thats prolly cuz i dont get a gun or anything =(

btw

i tested out my laptop

3dmark 2001se: 8800
3dmark 2003: 2300
max res: 1024x768

the only thing that i have found that i dont really like is that it blurs stuff a little but, but its not too bad

[jackson]

Those are pretty nice 3d mark tests. I think your screen might not be TFT, and that's why it blurs stuff.

[Todd]

I just ordered one of these yesterday. Can't wait to see how it runs. Today, the BestBuy website says it's now "Out Of Stock," so I guess I got mine just in time. I hope this thread keeps going. It's nice to have a place to share concerns/problems that might come up. I'll post my feelings about the system next week after I run it through a few of my own tests.

[Monkey]

hmmz i returned my laptop :(

it thought it was good but the video card was trash after i started using it. i was playing Midnight Club II and it kept lagging even with the settings turned down (this game runs perfectly with high settings on my desktop with a geforce 3 original)

i also tried gta vice city and that was messed up too



then recently i was reading some stuff about nvidia and how they optimize their drivers for benchmarking stuff so people will want to buy theirs.

http://www.techreport.com/etc/2003q3/valve/index.x?pg=1

if you read that and then hit next at the bottom and read all the pages nvidia doesnt come out looking so good. the geforce fx's dont run well in the directx 9 codepath etc.

i was very disappointed when i finally got around to playing games on it and they didnt work worth trash so i returned it. besides the fact that i couldnt play some games on it, it wasnt all that bad but i dont think im gonna spend that much money on a laptop where i cant play games...

[Monkey]

btw when i returned it i didnt have to pay the %15 restocking fee because i told them it wasnt working right. ;) however it might actually not have been working right im not really sure because my 2 year old geforce 3 runs all those games perfectly (personally i think geforce 3 was the last video card worth the money that nvidia has made, none of the other ones seem to be as good as they are supposed to be)

[DouglasMcc]

Monkey, I mean no offense, but I think you are expecting too much from your laptop. They are not designed for "hardcore" gaming. Here's an example:

My HP ZD7000 has the same video card... although with 128 megs memory. I get around 8900 to 9300 in 3Dmark01 SE. This is the second best among laptop video cards. An ATI 9600 can get in the high 9,000s. My desktop has a 128 meg ATI Radeon 9800. With only slight overclocking, I can get 19,000 to 20,000. That's double the performance. And this is without AA or any of the other "bells and whistles." Now, I have never played those 2 games. But I can say from experience, the Go5600 FX is a very capable MOBILE video card. Maybe your system was defective. Maybe the video card (or game) wasnt configured right. Not sure. Just remember one thing: even those 3 or 4 thousand dollar "super" laptops will not compete with a 1500 dollar desktop system. They cannot due to the heat and space issues that most desktops do not have to worry about. Who knows, maybe we will have liquid cooled laptops in the future... although I hate to think it might be my lap involved if one of those springs a leak.... BRRRRRR.

[Monkey]

no i dont think i was expecting too much, not when my geforce 3 64mb ddr 4x agp directx 8 card outperforms a brand new 64mb ddr 8x agp directx 9 card even though the geforce fx 5600 go gets a high benchmark. I was expecting it to AT LEAST run the games that i have on my desktop considering everything in the laptop was better than on my desktop (except for the harddrive and ram)

[Todd]

I got the laptop and the first thing I did was update the video drivers. It's working great. The 3d games I play seem to be running just as fast (with same video settings) as they did on my desktop with the radeon 9500 pro 128mb. The only gripe I have is that I have to reboot my computer after I close C&C Generals to get the game's video to load up properly the next time. Can't figure that one out, but it works. Overall I'm pleased with my Medion.

[Gilnear]

Todd - May I ask what games you've played/tested on your Medion? I'm very interested in getting this notebook.

[Todd]

So far I've played Commcand & Conquer: Generals and Jedi Academy. Both on highest video settings and working nicely. If you get this laptop, be sure to update the video drivers from Nvidia.com.

[Gilnear]

Whoa, that was a fast response - I was expecting it something back later tonight or tomorrow.. I have another question.

Is there anything about the notebook you don't like? (ie: bottom gets too hot, poor battery life, short wireless distance, too heavy) I'm most concerned about the heat and battery life since I don't have a wireless router at the moment and I'm willing to live with the weight.

[Todd]

It is a bit on te heavy side. Battery life is about average for a wireless notebook. I've noticed the screen is not as bright when on battery power compared to being plugged in. Other than that, my only gripe is what I've previously mentioned about needing to restart the computer in between games for the video to work properly.

[Unregistered]

I've tried to play Dark Age of Camelot with mine, and I'm having trouble. The graphics card did fine with games like Tron 2.0 and Jedi Academy.... but in DAoC the background shudders and the player is all jerky in his movements...

Tried to update the drivers at Nvidia.com, and when I go to check my version number it stays the same. I called Medion and the DAoC support line, neither one knows what the problem is.... so far I've spent 6 hours trying to figure it out. :(

[Gilnear]

Have you tried changing video settings? Lower resolution maybe?

Did you uninstall your nvidia drivers before installing the new ones? I believe there are tools out there that can remove all nvidia related software from your computer, its sometimes used to do clean install of drivers and for those going with another type of video card (ie. ati radeon). I think one of them is called 'detonator ripper' (not really sure). if you find it then do an uninstall of your current drivers, run the program, restart, and install the newest drivers.

Have you played any games other than DAoC and Jedi Academy? Which ones and did they run ok?

---------
Edit:

Check out: http://www.guru3d.com/detonator-rip/

[Unregistered]

I tried your suggestion and ran into the same problem as before. I run the newest download to unstall the drivers after I ran your RIP program, and it couldn't even find the card apparently. I went into the install new hardware menu and then specified the location of the drivers and it told me no drivers were found..... grrrrrr!

I finally went back to the d: recovery drive to get back the original drivers and am back at square one.

I tried the benchmark test for Final Fantasy XI, and it's running choppy too. It doesn't seem to matter what settings I play with, DOaC and that benchmark run spazdic.

I've only played Tron 2.0 and the new Jedi Academy game so far.

[Gilnear]

I'm not sure what else to try. I know that I read there was a notebook with an FXgo card in it that was underclocked and the reviewers said it was locked at its speeds. But I don't really think that's the problem. I wonder what DAoC and FFXI have in common.

What version of DirectX do you have installed?

[Unregistered]

9.0 DirectX

Thanks for the help, but I can't figure it out for the life of me. I have no idea why the graphics card won't accept the new drivers. ..... guess I'll have to save up again, this time for a desktop. :(

[Gilnear]

The only think I can think of is checking if you have 9.0a or 9.0b, if you have 'a' try updating.. if you have 'b' then maybe try to find directx8.. I'm sort of out of ideas :(